All about the name

Clary

Male

« Clary is a rare, Latin-derived girls' name that can mean "clear" or "happy." It's often seen as an abbreviation of Clarissa/Clara or a shortened form of Hilaria. »

#13339 since 1900

Meaning, origin, history

Clary is a unique and distinctive given name of Latin origin. Its meaning can be interpreted in two ways: as an abbreviation for Clarissa or Clara, which are derived from the Latin word "clarus," meaning "clear" or "bright"; or as a shortened form of the Greek name Hilaria, which means "cheerful" or "happy." The use of Clary as a given name is not widespread and has no significant historical or biblical references. However, it has been used in literature, notably by author Cassandra Clare in her popular young adult series "The Mortal Instruments," where the main character's name is Clary Fray. In terms of popularity, Clary is not a common name. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, there were only 14 babies named Clary in 2019, ranking it at number 5,635 for girls' names that year. This rarity makes Clary an interesting and attention-grabbing choice for a given name. Overall, Clary is a distinct and unique name with a Latin origin and a meaning related to brightness or happiness. While not widely used historically, its use in popular literature has helped bring this uncommon name into the modern consciousness.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Clary since 1880

Total births
177
Total since 1880
Peak year
1943
15 births
in 1982
5
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
0%
vs previous 5 years